Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-02-19
Continued from first column, this page. ]

ana mucn gratitude was asked, but
nothing was given in return. A
failure was deserved and should have
been most signal. Most capitalists
have known something about schemes
for improving the condition of their
men. Most manufacturers labor I'M
der the impression that they have
made attempts to help their men. l
call to mind the case of a firm most
notorious for being hard masters.
They had repeatedly cut wages at
times when there was no real neces-
sity for it. Yet the members of this
firm entertain liberal ideas, and
really consider themselves among the
few who are considerate of their work.
men, and In proof point to their en-
couragement of piecework. Most
capitalists, however, are aware of the
dlscouragements which come from
any attempt to assist workingmen of
the middle and lower grades. The
first obstacle in the way is the intol-
erance of any inference in private
affairs by the "boss," or cold man."
or the company" The man regards
his employer as his natural enemy.
They are, in his opinion, as bound
to quarrel as cat and dog. To have
a feeling of gratitude toward an en-
ployer is a weakness Of which he is
ashamed, to say the least. The
smaller the mans wages the less will
he tolerate assistance which does not
take the form of a permanent or an
actual increase in the amount of pay
for a given amount of work.
Among certain classes lack of in
telligence prevents them compre-
hending the honest attempts of capital
to benefit labor. The greatest OBJ
stacle, and one which is utterly i'm
placable, is the trade union and its
ideas of the universal equality of
men. Each man is regarded as a
unit to be paid a certain sum every
day. He is also a machine which
must not be allowed to exceed a GER
tam product in a given time.
Further, the unwritten law of the
union regards the employer as an
enemy who must be controlled MAIN
ly for the benefit of the union lead
ers. 1t may be we'll to illustrate the
latter point by an incident which o.
CURED in neighboring State not
long ago. Some of your readers may
recognize the circumstance. In the
middle of the execution of a fine con-
tract, a manufacturer was waited on
by man who was reputed to be one
of the leading lights of the union.
He announced that unless the wages
of the men were raised there would
be strike, AMI that the men were
prepared to go to any lengths. The
manufacturer recognized the man,
guessed that he had q price, and
boldly said, GLOW much is it going
to cost to keep things quiet here ?''
There was a moments hesitation and
then a sum was named 1--WE think
$3.50. The manufacturer assented
and said he would pay one-half on
the spot by a check and the re-
maiuder when his contract was fin
ished. A check was drawn and
handed over. The manufacturer
was assured there would be nc
trouble. And no trouble was
made and the contract was finish.
ed and the last payment made. In
the meantime the fellow made fast
friends with the men by circulating
a rumor of a reduction of wages
This was followed by an interview
with tbs proprietor, some threats and
a final report to the men that the
matter was settled and there would
be no reduction of wages, Naturally.
any scheme which comes from the
manufacturer which is to benefit the
laborer and will bring the interest Of
the two parties into harmony will
be most bitterly opposed By oil inter
ested in the labor unions. The
unions will oppose all the capitalist
may do, and use every effort to
Illustrate the latter; their very exist
ence depends upon doing this.
The Acknowledgements which will
be met in any attempt at improving
the condition of the laboring man
are far greater than can be shown IN a
single article. Great as these diff
ficulties are the work must be undec-
taken, and undertaken by all. The
small manufacturer as well rs the
large capitalist, the private corpora
It's well rs the railroad company,
must individually take mp the task.
Each must work in his own way, but
III 10: the sauie end, since the same
danger ir,perils the same capital ard
The same industry. The question
which is most naturally asked is,
What shall we do? How snail
we proceed ?" To answer such a
question is as difficnit as it would
be to frame reply to the question,
Elbow shall We conduct our busiress?"
Though a categorical answer may
not be within my power, ] may be
able in the future 10 throw light
upon the dangers to be avoided and,
to certain extent, get definite out
line for our ignorance, and thus rem
der substantial aid to those who are
about to undertake what may we'll